Bethesda, MD – May 21, 2015 - RadTech, the Association for Ultraviolet (UV) and Electron Beam (EB) Technology, has announced a new technology conference targeting the emergence of UV LEDs used with advanced materials. The program, UV LED 2015, will take place October 28 to 29 in Troy, N.Y. and will discuss the latest developments in UV LED curing technology.

October 28 will include a full day of presentations, an exhibition and reception. In addition, on October 29, attendees will be offered a tour of the Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center, on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, to learn about the group’s LED research efforts.

“UV LED curing is attracting significant interest in applications such as 3D printing, aerospace, inkjet, automotive, printing and packaging, wood finishing and pipe and tube,” says Pete Weissman, Quaker Chemical Corp., and RadTech President. “RadTech and NYSERDA both recognize the tremendous potential of UV LEDs, as well as the benefits of advancing this leading edge, enabling technology.”

RadTech helps to make manufacturing processes in New York more energy efficient, environmentally friendly and economical. The organization supports the Ultraviolet Light and Electron Beam Process Curing Systems Technology Center on the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus, which provides research, development and industrial testing.

"Governor Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) promotes the use of many innovative methods to reduce the use of energy in New York State," said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. "RadTech's events have proven to be a valuable forum for the promotion of the tremendous energy savings potential of UV and EB technologies. These efforts will help major industries reduce the amount of power needed for manufacturing, which will help in the State's efforts to create a clean, resilient and affordable electric grid."

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) supports RadTech's efforts in advancing this innovative and energy-saving technology and helping to recognize important developments in the state.

For more information about attending or exhibiting, visit www.uvled2015.com, or contact Mickey Fortune at mickey@radtech.org.

In order to rapidly expand market access and the product portfolio for their innovative ebeam technology, the COMET Group signed a purchase agreement earlier this week with the system integrator PCT Engineered Systems LLC, based in Davenport, Iowa, USA. COMET will thus become a vertically integrated powerhouse for low-energy ebeam technology. The parties agreed not to disclose the value of the transaction.

The acquisition of PCT Engineered Systems provides the COMET Group with direct access to the ebeam end-user market and in one shot also allows the group to expand its ebeam product portfolio. Charles Flükiger, President of X-Ray & ebeam Technologies: "COMET will be able to provide a solution for all potential users of low-energy ebeam technology. This is true for ebeam modules for OEMs, entire ebeam systems to end customers, as well as for all the automation required upstream and downstream from the beam."

"The acquisition of PCT Engineered Systems is an important step in the strategic development of the ebeam business as a third pillar of COMET Group," said Ronald Fehlmann, CEO of COMET Group. "The acquisition allows us to tap market potential that was previously unavailable to us, enabling us to generate sustainable value for the company, shareholders, clients and employees."

The COMET Group is one of the world’s leading vendors of x-ray, radio frequency (RF) and e-beam technology. With high-quality components, systems and services, the Group helps its customers maximize the quality, reliability and efficiency of their products and processes. COMET AG was founded in 1948. Based in Flamatt, Switzerland, the Group has a presence in all world markets. COMET’s stock (COTN) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. COMET, YXLON and ebeam – each of the Group’s three strong brands serves different markets. YXLON x-ray systems for non-destructive testing are supplied to end customers in the automotive, aerospace and electronics sectors. Under the COMET brand, the company builds high-quality, high-tech components and modules, such as x-ray sources, vacuum capacitors, RF generators and impedance matching networks. These products are in demand by manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace, semiconductor and solar industries as well as in airport security applications. Under its “ebeam” brand, the Group offers very compact, powerful ebeam sets currently used especially in the non-contact sterilization of beverage packaging.

PCT Engineered Systems LLC, headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, was founded in 1986 by Terry Thompson and two other partners. With about 85 employees in North America, the company is now a successful player in the market for electron beam equipped systems. COMET has been working closely with the firm for the last five years and in 2014, the two companies developed an ebeam-equipped system for the functionalization of polymer films and the curing of inks and coatings. COMET will retain all 85 employees. Terry Thompson will continue to manage PCT Engineered Systems LLC as General Manager.

PCT’s BroadBeamTM line of EB solutions include a high energy EP Series, which operates at up to 300 kV and is designed to cure and/or crosslink thick substrates at high speeds (like pressure sensitive adhesives); its medium energy LE Series, designed to perform in the 90 kV to 175 kV range and most often built in web widths from 36” to 108”; and its narrow web CE series, a compact, space saving EB system that operates in an accelerating voltage range of 90 to 200kv and can accommodate the processing of a wide variety of materials including webs, flat materials, and the three-dimensional (3-D) EB curing of objects like rigid packaging and cans.